Recently, I've been teaching a class covering various periods in church history. This past week, I covered the Council of Nicea, so I've been reading a lot on the Trinity and the deity of Christ. Truly brilliant was B.B. Warfield's "The Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity (The Works of B.B. Warfield vol. II). Also very helpful was Dr. White's book, The Forgotten Trinity (as well as his article, "What Really Happened at Nicea?").
On the other hand, while looking around in the library of my church, I came across Max Lucado's book, No Wonder They Call Him The Savior. I had completely forgotten about this book. I had read it some years back, probably ten years ago. My copy, wherever it is, is penciled up with my own notes, as most of my books are (I tend to interact with the texts I read). There was one particular point in this book that I've never forgotten. So, I thumbed through the copy from the library. For a moment, I wondered if the text really said what I had remembered. It had been at least ten years since I had read it. Sure enough, it was there.
Commenting on, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46), Lucado states:
"The despair is darker than the sky. The two who have been one are now two. Jesus, who had been with God for eternity, is now alone. The Christ, who was an expression of God, is abandoned. The Trinity is dismantled. The Godhead is disjointed. The unity is dissolved" (p. 47).
Contrary to Max Lucado, the Trinity has never been dismantled, and the Godhead has never been disjointed. The persons of the Trinity are coeternal. The word "coeternal" would cease to describe the Trinity if Lucado is right.
I know many struggle with Matthew 27:46, but one thing should be perfectly clear. If Jesus intended by his words to state that "the unity is dissolved," one has to explain why Luke records Jesus then saying, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46). If such separation between the Godhead had taken place, certainly Jesus would not have said these words.
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13 comments:
....thank you , thank you, thank you and thank you for posting this. It needs to be said and exposed. :)
gracey
In Grave with the body, in Hell with the soul, and -as a God- in Heaven with the Thief, and on the Throne You were seated, oh Christ, with the Father and the Spirit, filling everything, You Who are uncontained.
Lucado is theology like The Message is Scripture.
In Grave with the body, in Hell with the soul, and -as a God- in Heaven with the Thief, and on the Throne You were seated, oh Christ, with the Father and the Spirit, filling everything, You Who are uncontained.
This brings up an interesting issue. The descent into hell is part of the Apostle's Creed, but it is not part of any creed that would be truly binding from either the Catholic or Protestant rules of faith. It's a late addition to the AC, and it has little exegetical support. These days, it is largely denied.
Glad to have captured Your interest, my sweet, innocent, little, naive and unsuspecting victim. >:) Here's another taste of the forbidden fruit:
On earth You came, so that You might save Adam, and -not being able to find him- You've descended into those that lay below, even unto the depths of Hell You've searched after him, oh Master.
Adam feared, as God was walking then through Paradise, yet now he's glad that You came to Hell: for then he fell, yet now he's risen.
And -to directly answer Max Lucado- here's another one:
In the Grave You've set down, but form the Father's bossom You've never been estranged, oh my Christ. This thing is strange and uncommon.
So...given that our 'death' includes both spiritual and physical, in what way did Jesus take on our spiritual death on the cross...?
So...given that our 'death' includes both spiritual and physical, in what way did Jesus take on our spiritual death on the cross...?
This is why the doctrine of the trinity is so ridiculous! Max Lucado, although wrong like you yourself, in using the term "trinity" and it's man-made ideas forces an un-scriptural doctrine of a fictitious doctrine upon God's word because of historical figures who did so themselves, you thinking them right wallow in the same folly instead of believing scripture, but Lucado's little quote is more scriptural and reveals your sin. Lucado sees the real humanity of the son that had to die,(A hybrid mix neither man nor God, can redeem mankind) as he is not our kindred redeemer. You insert a hybrid mixture and reveal your polytheism. by trying to expose Lucado you have exposed yourself as a false teacher.
Anyone wanting to debate me on this issue can come here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Trinity_vs_Oneness_Debate/
Jesus saying: "father into thy Hand I commend my spirit" is not Jesus commending "another divine spirit" as that is blatant polytheism. Jesus is giving up his human spirit(James 2:26) But since you do not believe Jesus was a real man but some hybrid mix you have a real problem with scripture.
debate On Oneness versus Trinity
Limey Bob
http://www.mediafire.com/?8ydnuutfcpafbj6
I’ve finally figured it out! If the atheist are right and we Christians wrong, then when we die that’s it! Nothing happens. BUT, if we’re right and they are wrong, we go to Heaven and they somewhere not so nice. Either way, Christians don’t lose! Hmmm. Perhaps that’s why they hate us.
Max Lucado is a contemporary theologian, and most of them are not Reformed, nor correct. Error after error. What follows is heresy. Luther and Zwingli's conflict was over the Incarnation and communicatio idiomatum (communication of properties/interaction of divine/human nature) evolving around The Lord's Supper. This doctrine is strongly connected to perichoresis (relationship of the Trinity, etc.). To tear Christ apart is heresy. Also, seems like a bit of the Kenosis heresy is present here as well with Lucado. Though I'm in no position to speak for Luther and Chemnitz, these two Reformers would most likely trumpet blast Lucado - branding him as an enemy of the Gospel.
You make a good point. Christians are in a win-win situation. And I think the reason they are angry with Christians is due to the fact that they are actually angry at God, the One Whom they sadly deny exists and yet have plenty of substitutes that constitute a god in their life. We need to keep them in prayer for salvation. Hell is a place we don't wish on anyone. I wish the angry atheist could stop being so angry and just realize that God loves them and desires to spend eternity with them. I pray they find the answer to their anger that they hold against God and that God opens their heart to receive His love before it's too late.
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